Board Briefs

Davis School District is progressing toward the construction of a new aquatic center, with plans to include a 50-meter pool and additional shallow pool for varied activities. During a presentation to the Board of Education, Business Administrator Craig Carter shared updates on the project, which has been in development for several months.

The district recently selected architectural firm FFKR, also overseeing renovations at Bountiful High School, to lead the design. As part of the planning process, district officials have visited several aquatic facilities, including Utah Tech University’s 50-meter pool, the Wasatch Aquatic Center, and Brigham Young University's pool. A visit to the University of Utah’s pool is planned for October.

Carter outlined the financial strategy for the $30-40 million project, noting that $20 million is already set aside in district reserves. Additional funding may come from grants, fundraising efforts and potentially issuing bonds if necessary.

The proposed location for the aquatic center is on city-owned land adjacent to Ellison Park Elementary in Layton, which would leverage existing parking infrastructure.

Construction could begin in spring 2025, with an estimated completion date in 2026, pending board approval and final design completion.

The next steps include gathering input from local swim coaches, student-athletes and administrators to finalize design priorities.

Business Administrator Craig Carter provided an update on the Classified Staff Job Study, a review conducted to address recruitment challenges due to competitive market pay. The study focused on three employee groups: classified hourly employees (Table 9), Information Technology (IT) staff (Table 18) and mid-level supervisors (Table 19).

Evergreen Consulting, who previously worked with the district in 2016, was contracted for the study. They compared district salaries to other public entities across nine school districts, county governments and the University of Utah. The study revealed that entry-level pay for classified employees is below market rates, while mid-level salaries are competitive.

Recommendations included adjusting starting salaries across the salary tables. A $3.5 million adjustment was recommended for classified employees, with smaller adjustments for IT staff and mid-level supervisors. These changes will be implemented over the next several fiscal years, starting in September 2024 for IT and mid-level supervisors, with a phased approach for classified employees based on legislative funding.

The Davis School District Board of Education listened to a presentation provided by Director of Student Services Casey Layton and Military Support Coordinator Francesca Suarez about the Purple Star Back-to-School Night, which took place on Sept. 5 at the Hill Aerospace Museum.

The event, now in its second year, brought together 46 Purple Star Schools, military families and the broader community to foster understanding and support for military-connected students.

Layton and Suarez emphasized the growth and success of the event, which included contributions from Hill Air Force Base leadership, community organizations and district departments. With over 2,000 attendees, the night provided a platform for military and non-military students and families to connect, with activities, giveaways and interactive experiences.

This initiative is part of the district's broader effort to bridge the gap for military children, helping them feel welcomed and supported as they transition between schools.

Suarez praised the collaboration between the district and Hill Air Force Base, noting the impact of the event on fostering inclusion and community support for military families.

The Board of Education listened to a Learning First Presentation by Kaysville Elementary Principal Mike Page.